Envelop-opener.



J. L. McKENZIE.

Pawn :11 Dee. 11,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I J. L. McKENZIE.

ENVELOP OPENER.

APPLICATIOM FILED 05:120. 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- &,1 I Paten Dec. 11, 1917.

JOHN L. MoKnnzrE, or ia nacra enovn, INDIANA, Assrenon, Br manor AND MEsnE ASSIGNMENTS, or oNE FoUnrH TO WILLIAM H. TRUESDELL ANDoNE-HALF TO JOHNJT. CLAPP, BOTI-I or BEECH GROVE, INDIANA.

ENVELOP-OPENER'.

Application filedoctober 20, 191a, Serial No. 126,731.

To all whom it may comm: 1

Be it known that I, JOHN L. MCKENZIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beech Grove, Marion county, and State of Indiana, have invented and discovered cer tain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Openers, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to envelop cutters and its object is to provide a machine of this kind capable of being operated with great rapidity and which leaves both hands of the operator free to insert the envelop to be opened into the machine; to provide means whereby the cutting operation of the blade is eflected by ower the application of which is controlled hy trip [mechanism adapted to be actuated by the contact of the envelop therewith; to provide means whereby the blade tripping mechanism is reset duringthe descent of the movable blade whereby rapidity of operation is insured; to-provide such a construction of the machine that the parts may be returned to normal position either by the foot of the operator or by external power; to provide an effective form of cutting blade, and to generally improve the construction of machines of this class.

With these objects in view, my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine; Fig. 2, a front view in elevation;

I Fig.3, a vertical section; Fig. 4;, a horizontal section on the line H of Fig. 3 and Fig.5, a detail vertical section on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 2. l h

Referring to the drawings, 1, constitutes the base of the machine which is preferably made in the form of a rectangular body adapted to inclose the main operative parts. Onthe horizontal bed or table of the machine is mounted a fixed blade 2 which is adjusted and maintained in adjusted position on the base of the machine by means of angular, adjusting bearing plates 2 which are engaged by suitable set screws. These plates are adapted to bear against thefront edge of the fixed blade. The blade is adapted to be held inpositi0n by means of set screws 2 which engage in slots in the bed of the machine. Coiiperating with the inner cutting edge of the fixed blade is a vertically recipro;

cable blade 3 having preferably two inclined I Specification of Letters Patent.

sitioned just behind the fixed blade.

Patented Dec. ill, with able blade is adapted to sever a marginal strip from the sealed envelop which strip is of a width determined by the extent of pro; jection pf the edge of theel velop beyond the fixed blade which is controlled by a trip pQ-I This trip 5 includes a bar extending entirely across the fixed blade and behind the inner edge of the latter and below the movable blade and which trip is adapted to be carried down beyond the limit of movement of the movable blade as the latter descends, by mechanism to be now described. The trip 5 may be characterized as the primary actuated trip. An adjustable bed plate 5 serves to limit the rearward swinging moyement of thetrip bar and consequently fixes the width of the strip to be cut. h

The trip 5 is fixed to a rock shaft 6 which extends horizontally across the machine and which is journaled in the end bars 7 of a horizontal rocking frame including a cross bar 7 and which frame is adapted to rock on the horizontal pivot rod 8. A weight 5" is carried by an arm fixed to the rocking arm 6, whereby the trip bar 5 is adapted to be I jecting nose-piece 12 whichis adapted to strike against the lower end of a contact arm k 14 of a pivoted trip bar 15 for thepurpose of releasing the movable blade and perm1tting the descent of the latter as hereinafter described. A spiral spring 13 connected at one end to-the rigidframe of the ne upright standards on the frame of the machine. Fixed centrally on the rocking shaft 16 is a catch 18 having a hook at its lower end adapted to engage a lug 19 secured to the upper part of the vertically movable blade 3 and which catch is adapted to hold the blade in raised position until the bar 15 has been tripped, whereuponthe catch will be released from the blade so as to permit the same to descend. The blade iscarried rapidly and forcibly downward upon its release by means of driving springs 20, one of which ismounted at each end of the machlne and the upper ends of which sprlngs are' connected to lugs 20 carried by the blade, these lugs being adapted to move between the vertical standards 20 whereby the blade is guided in its vertical movement. A fiat spring 28 is secured by a notch 29 to each side of the vertical edge of the movable blade and the springs bear against the standards and serve to yieldingly guide the side edges of the blade in straight parallel lines between the standards.

Fixed to the blade 3 is a re-setting mem ber consisting of a vertical rod 21 on which is fixed a block 22 which in the descending movement of the blade and rod is adapted to contact with a cross bar 23 constituting part of the horizontal rocking frame formed by the bars 7 and the arm 7'. By the contact of the block 22 with the cross bar 23, the rocking frame is operated to depress the cross bar 7 into-contact with the bell crank arm 12 and reengage the latter with the latch 11 so as to hold the blade releasing mechanism in engagement with the trip 5 once more and ready for the next operation 50 by the contact "of the envelop with the trip. The rocking frame '7 is heldnormally upwardly and re-tracted into upward position automatically by means of springs 24 connected to the cross bar 7. An adjustable screw 25 serves as a stop for the frame and the lower end thereof is adapted to contact with the cross bar 7 j The frame 77, the bell crank 12 and bar 15, constitute an intermediate or blade releasing trip mechanism.

The blade is adapted to be restored to its uppermost position ready for operation, by means of the contact of a foot pedal or other lifting member (not shown) adapted to bear against the lower end of the rod 21.

This restoring operation may be effected by suitable power means, if desired, although ordinarily it will be found that sufiicient speed of operation may be. obtained through the operation. of the blade by the foot of the operator.

In order to guide and guard the envelop contact bar 5 of the primary trip, back to its normal position above the level of the bed, a plate or bar 27 is mounted just below the fixed blade. To the rear of the fixed blade and at the bottom of the frame 1 is a strip receiving trough 30, adapted to receive the marginal piece cut from the envelop, thereby protecting the mechanism of the machine from entangling pieces of paper.

A casing or cover is mounted on the machine over the movable blade and the front wall 31 of the cover extends down to a line sufficiently near the fixed blade to prevent the insertion of the fingers of the operator, thus serving as a safety guard.

The operation of the machine is as follows As the envelop 26 is moved forward by hand across the face of the fixed blade, its inner margin will be carried into contact with the trip bar 5 which projects a short distance above the surface of the fixed blade. The envelop will rock this trip bar back a short distance on the pivot (3 until a narrow marginal strip of the envelop is projected beyond the rear edge of the fixed blade. The trip is limited in its movement by the rear bed plate and thus serves as a gage for the strip to be cut. As the trip 5 is swung back, the said shaft 6 will be rocked and there upon the arm 9 fixed thereto will be carried forwardly pulling the wire link 10 forward, against the tension of the spring 13 and carrying the latch 11 out of engagement with the arm 12 of the bell crank, whereupon the spring 18 will carry upward the arm 12 and throw the end of the arm 12 against the lower end of the contact arm 14 of the trip bar 15, whereupon the rock shaft 16 will be rocked so as to carry the catch 18 out of engagement with the lug 19 fixed on the movable reciprocating blade 3. The blade 3 will then be instantly thrown downward by the driving springs 20 and the two shearing edges 41 of the blade will sever a marginal strip from the envelop. The spring guides 28 will insure a correct straight, vertical movement of the blade. As the blade descends, the block 22 carried by the rod 21 will move down against the cross bar 23 and depress the horizontal frame 77' so as to carry the trip bar 5 down below the limit of travel of the blade and to carry the front cross bar 7 of the frame down into engagement with the arm 12 so as to restore the engagement of the bell crank lever with the latch 11. It will thus be seen that the blade tripping mechanism is resetto the-position in which it is ready foranother operation, during the descent of the blade." This'ni'ode of operation insures a very quick and positive resetting action as compared with resetting the trip during the return movement of the blade.

As the blade is moved up by the pressure of the foot pedal or other external power means, thus releasing-the frame 7-7, the trip 5 will be permitted to rise into normal position and toswing forward, such swinging movement being effected automatically by means ofthe weight 5.- I The trip bar is guided back to position by means of the guard plate 27. i I I The release and throw of the blade are almost instantaneous and consequently a very rapid operation is "obtainable. Either one or a number of envelope may be opened at a single operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: j 1. In an envelop opener, in combination with a fixed blade and a movable blade, a

combined'envelop gage and trip member lo cated adjacent the edge of the fixed blade and means for moving said member away from the movable blade as the latter descends.

2. In an envelop opener, in combination with a fixed blade, a vertically movable blade, power means for operating the movable blade, a combined gage and trip member adapted to be operated by the contact of the envelop and located adjacent the edge of the fixed blade and below the movable blade means permitting the rearward movement of the trip member as the envelop is advanced, means operated by such move ment to release the power means, and means to carry said member away from the movable blade as the latter descends.

3. In an envelop opener, in-combination with a fixed blade, a vertically movable blade, power means for operating said movable blade, a combined trip and gage member mounted adjacent the fixed blade and below the movable blade and operable by the contact of the envelop, said trip member being pivotally mounted on a support to swing back from the edge of the fixed blade and said support being pivotally mounted to carry the trip member bodily downward when said support is rocked.

4. In an envelop opener, in combination with a fixed blade, a vertically movable blade, power means for operating said movable blade, a combined gage and trip member mounted adjacent the fixed blade and pivotally mounted on a rocking support and adapted to be operated by the contact of the envelop, means for automatically restoring the trip member to normal position, means for rocking said support to carry the trip away from the movable blade as the latter operated by the contact of the envelop,

descends and means for automatically restorings'aid rocking support to its normal position; i

In an envelop opener, in combination with a fixed blade, a vertically movable blade, power means for operating said movableblade, latch means for holding the movable blade inoperative, a trip mechanism controlling said power means latch, a trip means of operative connection between said contact trip and said power controlling trip and a part carried by the movable blade for resetting said latch power trip in thedownward movement of the movable blade by positive contact of said part with said trip mechanism.

'6. In an envelop opener, in combination with a fixed blade, a vertically movable n blade, power means for operating saidmov- 8 able blade, a blade releasing trip operable to permit the operation of said power means, an envelop contact trip below the movable blade, means of connection between said contact trip and said blade releasing trip, means for resetting the blade releasing trip by the blade as it descends and means for re-setting the contact trip upon the ascent of the blade.

7. In an envelop opener, in combination with a vertically movable blade for severing a marginal strip from the envelop, means for forcing said blade downwardly, a catch for retaining said blade in raised position, spring operated tripping means for said catch, a spring operated latch for normally retaining said tripping means in inoperative position and a trip member connected to said latch and adapted to be operated by the contact of the envelop.

8. In an envelop opener, in combination with a fixed blade, a vertically movable blade, springs for operating said blade, a catch for detaining said blade in raised position, a spring actuated trip for releasing 1 said catch, a latch for retaining said trip,

a movable member for restoring said trip to engagement with said latch and means connected to the movable blade for operating said restoring member during the descent of the blade.

9. In an envelop opener, in combination with a fixed blade, a vertically movable blade, springs for throwing said blade downward to sever a marginal strip from the envelop, a catch for holding said blade in raised position, a trip for releasing said catch from the blade, a latch for retaining said trip, a contact trip member operable by the envelop and connected to said latch and a swinging frame having means to restore said first trip. in engagement with the latch, and means to operate said swinging re-setting member by the descent of the movable blade.

with a vertically movable blade operableto' 10. 'In "an envelop Opener, in combination sever a marginal strip from theenvelop,

catch, meansfor permitting the operation of said trip when an envelop is inserted'into the machine, a horizontally pivoted swinging frame having means to contact with said trip to reset the latter when the frame is depressed, means carried by the'blade for depressingsaid swinging frame and means for automaticallyrestoring said frame to normal position. 7 11.; In an envelop opener, in combination with a vertically movable blade, power meansfor operating the same, a catch for holding the blade out of operation, a blade releasing trip, a re-setting member operable by the'downward movement of the blade to re set said trip, amember connected to the blade for engaging said .re-setting member,

Copies of thispatent may be obtained for a'spring for restoring said re-setting mem ber to normal position and buller means 1:

against said standards to maintain the said edges in straight parallel lines of movement.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana this 16th day of October, A. D. nineteen hundred and sixteen.

JOHN L. MCKENZIE. [1 8.

Witnesses: 1

A. C. RICE, H. P. Doonrr'rnn.

five'eents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents. Washington, D. C. 

